The Corrib Development Action Plan 2014-2019, published in 2014, set out twelve major goals. These are very much in line with the National Biodiversity Action Plan. The short term targets have already been met and mechanisms were put in place to ensure the continuation of the long term actions to protect and, where possible, enhance biodiversity.
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The full lessons along with a supporting toolkit are available in three different formats,
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Life on Earth evolves as a complex web of interdependent organisms, ranging from large plants and animals to micro-organisms. The variety or ‘diversity’ of these living things is referred to as ‘biological diversity’ or simply ‘biodiversity’.
The term biodiversity can be applied both globally and locally. Global biodiversity depends on the biodiversity of all of its parts, whether these are considered as regions and countries or in terms of larger ecosystems such as oceans, rivers, rainforests, coasts and dry land of various kinds.
Human impact on the environment
Over the last few millennia humans have become the dominant species on planet Earth and have transformed it to suit themselves, usually without much thought for the health of the environment and ultimately for our own wellbeing.
The Industrial Revolution, which began around 1760, had largely negative effects on the environment. Factories often caused pollution of air and water but they also provided jobs. In 1800 less than 10% of the world’s population lived in cities; today that fraction is over 50% and, in the case of the most developed countries, it is over 80%. In 1803 the global population reached 1 billion; today it is 7.8 billion.
Growth in environmental awareness
In the mid-twentieth century smog and river pollution were a fact of life in most capital cities, including Dublin, London and Paris. Eventually steps were taken to ban the use of smoky fuels and to prevent sewage and industrial effluent entering the rivers. There was a growing realisation that people are part of the biosphere and that we need to live in a more sustainable way.
At the United Nations Earth Summit in 1992 the first Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was signed and four years later it was ratified by over 180 countries. Its purpose was to address the global decline in biodiversity caused by exploitation of natural resources, such as forests and fisheries, in unsustainable ways.
Today all proposals for infrastructural projects are required to include plans for the protection of local habitats and biodiversity as well as the wider environment. In 2011 the Government published the second National Biodiversity Action Plan for the years 2011-2016. (A third plan was published in 2017). Each local authority draws up its own biodiversity action plan detailing how national and EU directives are to be implemented locally.
True or False?
The term biodiversity only applies to global issues.
false
The Industrial Revolution had no effect on the environment.
false
Human beings are part of the biosphere.
true
All EU countries are obliged to have a National Biodiversity Action Plan.
true
A healthy ecosystem needs different types of organisms.
true
The environment impact of a project is measured by conducting a survey when construction is over.
false
In a sampling survey all individuals of each species must be counted.
false
Responsible development can improve biodiversity.
true
In Ireland we have about 1000 insect species.
false
Today about 60% of Ireland’s natural gas requirement comes from the Corrib Gas Field.
true